Before He Was Voldemort (A Tom Riddle Fanfiction)

Chapter 31: I Am Lord Voldemort

March, 1944

The beginnings of winter's awaited departure were becoming evident through the quickly warming air that was the hot breath of springtime itself. Remaining patches of snow melted away. Brittle grass returned to its rich green color, followed by sprouts of vegetation blooming from within such as flowers with hues ranging from sunshine yellow to lovely lilac. Vibrancy seemed to be returning to the world again after a long hibernation. The weather was enough to make anyone immediately drop everything and run outside to enjoy the sun on their skin.

Except for two people. They were too busy in their own little universe to care about a matter as plain as the season changing.

While most everyone was out wandering in Hogsmeade, taking advantage of the gorgeous day, Corinne was cooped up in the library catching up on everything she missed while she skipped out on several lessons a couple of weeks back. Her professors had seemingly decided to assign extra homework and exams during her absence. It was seriously taking a tremendous toll on Corinne's already miserable marks. A cruel case of karma that she knew she probably deserved.

Half an hour of cramming for a missed exam later and Corinne could barely think straight. She was stuck on the same page in her textbook, reading the same sentence over and over again and still not being able to digest it in her mind. And the fact that Tom was sitting right next to her purposely sneaking smug looks at her while occasionally nudging his foot against hers definitely wasn't helping her concentration.

"Remind me again why you decided to come to the library with me," Corinne said, turning her head to look at Tom. He had a book of his own cracked open on the table before him, obviously pretending to be immersed in it when he very well knew what game he was playing. 

"You asked me to help you study," said Tom matter-of-factly, feigning innocence.

"Well clearly you and I have a different interpretation of 'helping me study.'" Giving Tom a taste of his own medicine, Corinne brushed her foot across his ankle.

He stiffened for a split second before recovering, smirking. "I grew bored of teaching you concepts that I've already grasped months before they were taught in class. If only you hadn't skipped out on lessons..."

Corinne rolled her eyes. "How many times are you going to remind me?"

"Until it ceases to bother you."

"And whose fault is it that I skipped all those lessons?" Corinne countered, glaring at Tom accusingly.

Tom shrugged. "I don't know why you're looking at me. You made the choice to do it."

Corinne opened her mouth to retaliate but found her mind blank of a witty comeback. Tom was right but she didn't have the dignity to admit it to him. She couldn't let him win as he almost always did. Suddenly, Corinne had a devilish idea that would surely wipe that proud smirk off Tom's face. Payback.

She exaggerated a long sigh and leaned back in her chair to stretch, making a show out of it. Tom watched her curiously out of the corner of his eye. Then, smoothly, Corinne straightened again, allowing her arm to drape across her lap while the other one landed back on the table.

"I suppose you're right, Tom," Corinne said, lowering her voice to a sultry purr. "It was my fault."

"I'm glad we're on the same page," Tom murmured.

"Mhm." Then, ever so slowly, Corinne inched her hand closer to Tom, where his hands were clasped together on his lap. Hiding her smile with her free hand, her hand under the table continued to drift sideways until, by mistake, it landed on Tom's knee. They both froze.